Vehicle suspension



June 2l, 1938. J. v. MATlN l VEHICLE SUSPENSION 11 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed July 2l, 1951 ZZ #j MARTIN VEHICLE SUSPENS ION June 21,A 1938.

11 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 origgnal `Filed July 21, lsl

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VEHICLE SUSPENSION I Original Filed July 2l. 1931 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jung 21, 193s.

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yUNI'41V1E'-D- STATE VEHICLE SUSPENSION .lames V. Martin, Garden City, N. Y.

Application July 21, '1931. `Serial No. 552,238 Renewed June 19, 1937 11 claims. (ci. aso-124) The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved vehicle suspension, which while holding the wheels inilexiblywithin a rotational plane or planes will permit a large range of comparatively free vertical movement, i. e. yieldable vertical movement free from cramping or binding effects due to various side loadings of the wheels. Y

The benets of individual springing for vehicle wheels have long been known, but practical diillcultieshave prevented succes'sln application and in my experience the tendencyof vertical guides to cramp or bind has -held back the application of complete individual wheel springing.

A further' object of vmy invention is to simplify and` adapt the related Jsteering and driving parts in harmony with the new form ot guide herein disclosed and to improve upon the guide brackets and steering means shown in-my copending Serials #355,839, filed Apr. 17, 1929 and issuedasiPatent #2,010,368; #407,131 led Nov. 14, 1929 and issued as Patent #2,084,694 and #431,617 iiled Feb. 26, 1930 andissued as Patent A still further object vof my invention vis to show the best application of my invention to a road vehicle and an aeroplane and to provide a more compact arrangement of seating, motor placement, wheel location and entrance than a0 those hitherto. known or used and to eliminate from external positions certain parts such as the muler and to protect in a novel manner the sides of the vehicle from injury due tto contact with other objects. V

3.3 Still further objects of my invention will become apparent Aas the description proceeds.

Fig.V 1 is a view in elevation and mostly in section showing my improved guide and bracket .as applied to the front left steering wheel.

Ii0 Fig.-2 is a view looking down upon the guide and associated hub and,v tie rod parts, the guideA parts themselves being in section.

Fig. 3 is van elevational viewlookingatl the guide from the position of -theguide bracket attachment to the vehicle body. l

Fig, 4` is 'a viewlooking downwardly upon the I steering bracket at the base of the steering column, and

i Fig. 5 is a view. in side elevation of this sameN bracket.

Fig. 6 isa view in elevation and partly in sec.. tion of-the rear left wheel guide bracket and braking mechanism, and u Fig. '7 is an elevation. mostly in section, taken 6d along the line X''X of Fig. 6.

Fig. '8 is a view looking down upon the rear drive wheel guide bracket and brake mechanism, and t Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the universal joint shown in the hub cap of Fig. 'L and Fig. 10

v is a still more detailed internal view of this universal joint turned to a maximum angle.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view looking down upon the center of the rear guide bracket.

Fig. 12 is aside elevation showing the outside 10 of an improved taxibus or cab to which my in-A vention is applied, and

Fig. 131s a plan view showing the inside seating and door arrangements of the improved taxibus.

while l5 Fig. 14 is a front elevation and Fig. 15 a front interior view of the said taxi and,

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view showing the interior partly in section, and Fig. 17 shows the preferred arrangement of my novel guard strips 20 V .and pannel inclosing the rear drive wheel, and

Fig. 18 shows the wheel housing and pannel in section as seen from above and Fig. 19 shows one form o! the guard strip in' section while Fig. 20 shows an alternative form and alternative meth- 25 ods of attaching to the body side wall, while Fig.

' .21 shows a method of marrying the ends of the guard strips and their pannel to the car side wall to bridge the strength against external blows.

, Fig. 22 shows the self-aligningguide shoe and 30 Fig. 23 is an end view ofthe same showing in dotted lines the hole for the self-aligning axis.

, Continuing with a more detailed description of my invention similar numerals will'designate similar parts throughout: 4 v 35 I'indicates a box-like trussed lower portion of a vehicle designed to be associated with my new v type of suspension and having ,an angle iron bridge truss 3 cooperating with a floonsupport l and a side wall 5 and bottom 6 to form a non- 4b l flexing support for the guide wheel brackets l and 8, whichare bolted to the side wall at f l',

- The iront .wheel brackets 1 have an upper fork 'mand a lower fork 1b which hold a steel 45 `tube 9 turnable in bushings l0.' Threaded rings 9a at top'and'9b at bottom hold. the tube from vertical movement in the forked bracket and also hold i'n place a steel metal closing cap lI I- at top and bottom of the ends of the said tube.

Inside of tube 9 and welded or screwed thereto are milled omis I2 (Fig. 2) having square shaped vertical slots'ito which'shoes I3 t snugly.

. Pins u amena/d to the spinne forging Is a1'- low the shoes i3 to turn freely in the holes Il' 65 in the center of each shoe, so that all lateral i'erred to as a self-aligning guide: Figs. 1, 13 and show one suchguide between each steering wheel and the body bracket.

It will be observed. that there are fourshoes widely separated to gi e leverage strength to the spindle forging and to old the wheel in desired planes oi rotation w freely vertically in the gui cates a radiused head milled forms I2 and so that it provides a guide and radiused part for the slipping of a steel ribbon which is attached to the steel forging at Il. It will be noticed that the spindle forging enters the tube s throgh a slot Il vertically elongated as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the function oi the steel ribbon is to seal the slot againsty exit of grease and against ingress of dirt, packing is indicated at Il'. 'Ihe wheel hub 2l is held on roller bearings on the steel spindle forging in conventional manner, while 2l' indicates a disc wheel bolted to the said hub. -Arms 2| are carried by the spindle forging and these have a three sided channel with the open side thereof closed by excentrically journalled and roughened clamps 2| designed to grip grooves. Il indiat top and bottom of the and hold aviator cord 22 such as more fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 355.839 filed April 17. 1929.

The lower fork Tb of the bracket carries corresponding arms 2l andthe rubber cords yieldingly suspend the vehicle body for vertical movement between these arms.

The tube I is fixed at its lower part to a steering arm` 24 and each end of a steering tie rod 25 is journalled to turn about a bearing 24' of arm 24. This tie-rod does not move up and' down with the wheels as in conventional practice but passes through a hole in the body above the bottom thereof and as disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 has a rack 26 attached to it pinion 2T keyed to the lower end of the steering column 2l which is Journalled to turn within a bracket 2l which is bolted to the body bottom 6. 'I'his bracket also carries an idler wheel to hold the tie-rod in proper contact with the pinion 21.

v Dust caps Il' hold oil in and keep dust out.

dotted lines in Fig. j l passes from the differential 4l'V which isxed to the means of roller bearings .like the front brackets the vslots Referring now to Figs. 6, '1, 8, 9. 10 and 11 the rear brackets l are somewhat like the front brackets excepting thatfthey have no parts for steering, but have two guides or guide assemblies Il spaced further apart and their shoes I! held turnably on the ends of pins Il and these pins are carried by the stubv axle part 34 which holds the rear drive wheel Il in rotational augment by It.V The shoes themselves are like il of Flg's.,22 and 23 and are selfaligning as to pressures transmitted to the guide surfaces of Il. These guide surfaces are iiirmly held in body brackets l. attached to wall i and 3l are closed by steel ribbons 'Il similar to those on the front brackets. These ribbons close the slots 31 against dirt and pass over radiused parts 3l 'indicated in A drive shaft 4I j center of the lower portion l of the body; the shaft being'attached by a universal joint, through a slot l in the body allowing it to travel this is grooved or recessed.

side wall 5 thence through thetapered hollow stub axle 34 to another universal joint 4| located within the hubcap 42. 'I'his universal joint is which the wheel 35 is bolted and which also carries the brake druml. It will be noticed that the inner end of the stub-axle 34 is closed against exit of grease by a radiused dust cap 48 held tight by a spring 49 so that the grease placed within the hub cap 42 will suiilce for both the universal joint and roller bearings. l

The brake band 501s carried by the upward arm 5| leading from the top of the stub axle part 34, this also carries the weight of the brake operating mechanism, while the' brake band is guided on the drum 41 by clips 52 carried by the arms 2| which is also carried by the stub axle 34. Cor- -responding arms 23 are ilxed to the lower end ing mechanism is not much diiierent from theA conventional, but the brake torque is taken in an entirely novel manner, i. e. instead oi passing this into a Arear drive housing it is taken directly into the body side wall in sheer by a radius arm 52 journalled to the body l at i4.l :The operating cable passes over thev journal center 54 so that the operation of the brakes will not-be affected by the vertical position .of the stub axle in the bracket. Rubber bumpers 56 limit the relative movement of the .guide travel and stresses are taken simply and directly instead of in the complicated and multiplied fashion of conventional practice.

Referring now to Figs. l2; 13, 14, 15 and 16 we iind a motor 51 bolted securely to the base of the taxi and inclosed within a housing Il located under and to one side of the drivers seat 59. A radiator 8l has a water connection 6| with the motor through the double bottom base of the taxi and a hand wheel 28 ismounted upon the top of the steering column. A gear box I2 is reached by hand lever 83, while diiierential 4l' is located under the rear seat 84 and additional folding seats 65 are provided. Ihe doors Il operate by rods, not shown, in a well known manner from the drivers seat and fold into the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 13. In this particular arrangementof driver and steering column a link connection isl shown'to reach from the column end back to the steering tie rod, but itI will be understood that where the'driver does not sit so far forward -the direct connection of tie rod and column shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used; in any'case the tie rod is above the body bottom -have with the adjoining guard stripsl as shown in Fig. 2l.

As shown in Figs. 19 and 20 these guard strips are built .up in form and material for great strength and are hollow for light weight, being of combined wood and metal construction glued together with water resisting glue. Alternative methods of attaching the guard strips to the side wall are shown at69 and `10v and where an outwardly swinging door is used it is contemplated carrying the guard strip across the door having a V shape at the hinge side and a shape such as shown at Fig. 21 omitting the bolt .1| on the nonhinge "side. In order to prevent the horizontal protrusions of 'other vehicles from injuring the body of a vehicle I have provided vertically disposed guard bumpers 18 and 19 outwardly/"ofV the horizontal guard bumpers 61, see Figs. v12 and" 14. It-will be noticed that vertical part 19 is attached at 80 to the horizontal bumper `61. Such a door may replace the closed side of the taxi-bus omitting the two folding seats.

Since the low center of gravity obtained by my boxlike structure is so near to the ground that no room for a muffler is available a nw type of muiiler suitable for installation inside of the base l is provided at T3 which takes the exhaust gases from pipe 12 and by Venturi tube eifect' 'M the road wheel, an intervening guide bracketv inclosing self-aligning guide surfaces to hold the wheel f in desired relations with the said body and providing a sliding yieldable vertical movement therebetween, a-steering tie-rod leading from a sprung-portion of the said bracket through the body side wall above the body bottom, a steering .column secured to the body bottom and carrying y a pinion thereon, and a rack meshing with the said pinion on the said tie rod to move the same.

2. In combination with a wheel bracket intervening between a vehicle side wall and a road spindle and closing the said `slot against ingress of dirt.

3. In combination with' independent wheel springing for a vehicle,.an internally trussed portion'of the vehicle body extending horizontally between" two forward steering road wheels, the floor of the said body forming the upper memberof the said trussed portion and a lower bottomclosure forming the bottom truss member, a

`forked wheel guide bracket having an upper fork leading off from the upper and a lower fork from thel lower of said truss limits on each side of the Vsaid body, a vertically. yieldable stub axle member sliding on self aligning bearings within a .cylindrical guide, the said guide journalled to.

" turn within bearings located in the -said forked bracket, a tie rod lever rigid with the cylindrical r'guide on each side and a connecting rack pass.

ing through the said trussed body portion and connecting the said tie rod levers, a steering column passing through a bearing located within the said trussed portion and a pinion meshingv Awith the said rack and rotatedby the said column'to steer the said wheels.

- 4. In combination with independent springing for .the drive-'wheel of Va vehicle, a stub axle part holdingthe rotational alignment of L the said wheel through anti-friction bearings and having guide extensions on the body side of the said bearings, multiple guide shoes journalled to the vsaid extensions and sliding vertically in an inclosed guide rigid with the lower part of the said body. Y

5. A combination according to claim 4 and a drive shaft passing through the said stub axle part to a universal joint located outwardly of the said bearings.

6. In combination with independent' drive wheel springing for road vehicles, two vertically elongated and spaced apart guide members attached to the sprung portions of the said vehicle, each of said guide members inclosing an upper and a lower shoe, each said shoe carried on a pivot by a stub axle part of the said wheel and the said pivot located intermediate the upper and lower bearingsurfaces of each said shoe.

'7.A combination according to claim 6, an entrance in each-saidv guide member for portions of saidaxle part and a loop of flexible material sealing one of the said entrances against ingress of dirt while` permitting vertical movement of the said part therein.

8. In combination with the independentlyj y sprung drive wheel of a vehicle, a stub axle part holding the rotational alignmentV ofthe said I y wheel through anti-friction bearings and having guide extensions on the body side of the said bearings, multiple guide shoes journalled to said extensions and sliding vertically in an inclosed guide rigid with the lower part of the said body, a drive shaft passing through the said stub axle to a universal joint located outwardly of the said bearingsand'means to seal the space between the outer end of the said stub axle` and the shaft against passage of oil or dirt while permitting universal movement of the said shaft.

9. The combination between a vehicle having a bracket and ground wheel, of a vertically'elongated guide secured at its top and bottom to the said bracket, a stub axle part for the said wheel extending from the said wheel into the said guide between thesecured portions thereof and having upwardly and downwardly extending parts -within 'the said guide and a pivoted shoe on each of the said. extending parts.

10. In combination with an individually sprung vehicle wheel, a guide, a stub axle part guided for vertical movement within the said guide and entering the said guide through a slot in the wheel side thereof and a iiexible closure for the ,said slot sealing the sides thereof attached to the upper and lower side of the said stub axle part.

1l. In combination with a vehicle and one of its ground wheels, a vertical guide, a stub axle part, guide shoes carried by said part and sliding i within the said guide and holding the said vehicle and wheel in guided vertical alignment with each other, the said shoes pivotally mounted on the said part so that they have part of their bearing surfaces above, and part below' the said pivot.

12. In' combination Vwith a vertical guide bracket interveningv between and connected to a vehicle and oneof its ground wheels, an inclosed vertical guide, a stub axle part connected to the said bracket and having pins thereon multiple sliding shoes journalled on said pins carried by the said part and iitted within the said guide and parts of the bearing area of eachsaid shoe/l journalled on pins attached to the said part and holding it in a given rotational planerelative the said vehicle and wheel while permitting vertical vmovement there-'between and the said rod arranged to absorb brake torque so that such torque doesnot enter the said shoes.

14. In combination with independently sprung.

wheels for a vehicle, an internally trussed portion of the vehicle Vbody extending horizontally between two forward steering wheels, the floor of the said body forming vthe upper member ofthe said trussed-portion and a lower bottom closure tach'ed `to the sprung part of the said vehicle, a stub axle part entering through a slot in the side of the said guide and a Acontinuous loop of exible material passing from the upper said axic part where it enters the sa'id slot and sealing the said slot against ingress of dirt and passing over radiused portions of the said guide atl top and bottom thereoi and ending adjacent the bottom of the said axle part where same enters the Asaid slot.

16. In combination with a -vehicle wheel, a stub axle part, a vertical wheel guide carried by the vehicle and guide shoes pivotally carried by the said stub axle part, the axis of the said pivots being intermediate part ofthe upper and lower area of the said shoes.

17. A combination according to claim 16 and a means including rubber in tension to carry the said guide yieldably from the said axle part.

JADEES V. MARTIN. 

